Trial date set for man charged in Flagler Beach shooting

Paul Miller is charged with second-degree murder in the slaying of Dana Mulhall, 52, on March 14 in Flagler Beach during an argument over barking dogs.

FRANK FERNANDEZSTAFF WRITER

The trial of a Flagler Beach man accused of shooting his neighbor to death during an argument over barking dogs has been set for Feb. 25.Paul Miller, 65, is charged with second-degree murder in the March 14 slaying of Dana Mulhall, 52, in Flagler Beach. Mulhall was unarmed when Miller opened fire as the two argued across a front yard fence over Miller's barking dogs, investigators said.Circuit Judge J. David Walsh set a pre-trial hearing for Feb. 6 and another hearing on Feb. 21 and then the trial for Feb. 25.Melissa Moore Stens, who in January will take office as the new Flagler County Judge, stood in for her law partner, Douglas Williams, in the case.Moore Stens submitted a motion requesting for the state to pay for a linguist.Moore Stens declined to say why a linguist was needed in the case and referred questions to Williams, who could not be reached.The linguist, though, may have something to do with Miller's Southern accent.Miller has been free from the Flagler County Jail since May 29 on $300,000 bail.Miller and Mulhall had clashed over Miller's barking dogs in January but the dispute turned deadly on March 14. On that afternoon, Miller was inside his garage getting ready for a fishing trip when he heard Mulhall yelling at Miller's two Pekingese-Shih Tzu mix dogs, investigators said.Miller took his 9-mm pistol from a cabinet and then walked outside and sat on his porch, investigators said.Mulhall then walked out of his house and the two began to argue. Miller shot Mulhall five times, including twice in the back as Mulhall fled, investigators said.